Travel Top 5: Tips for solo travellers

For those who have never travelled solo, Jodi Ettenberg, the force behind the popular travel blog Legal Nomads has compiled a list of tips for meeting people and travelling safely in mind:

Handout photo
/ Jodi Ettenberg

5. GET OUT OF YOUR BUBBLE

Pick guesthouses with a large common area. It is always interesting to meet other travellers, and a great way to do so is via your guesthouse. With large common areas for chatting or reading, getting food tips or exchanging travel questions is simple. Oftentimes, I'll end up crossing paths with a few people later on, sharing a meal or an evening on the town. (Note, too, that if people outside your guesthouse ask you where you are staying as you are wandering around, it is wise to be vague. I am wary of giving too much information about my whereabouts when traveling alone.william87
/ Fotolia.com

4. DRESS APPROPRIATELY

Dress the part. Whether male or female, if understanding the place you visit is on the agenda, a great way to further communication is to make an effort to dress respectfully. This doesn't mean copying elaborate local wear, but to mimic gently. Locals will appreciate it, and I've found myself invited to join meals far more frequently when dressed the part.Handout photo
/ Jodi Ettenberg, LegalNomads.com

3. MEET OTHERS ONLINE

Online meetups are quite common and a good way to cross paths with travellers and expats alike in a group setting. When I first arrived in Vietnam, I checked for meetups in the area and went to one for people who love food, and another for people who wanted to exchange languages. Oftentimes the people you meet in those group settings are connectors to others in town.Jane September
/ Fotolia.com

2. JOIN A TOUR

Many women write me afraid to travel solo and ask for advice. I often recommend that they join an organized tour first, and then keep on after alone. As a G Adventures Wanderer in Residence I have the opportunity to join their trips. I recently hopped on one of their India trips for this reason -- two weeks with them, and then explored Delhi after on my own.

Travelling with a small-group in the company of others and a tour leader with local knowledge offers additional peace of mind. The logistics are taken care of so you can focus on enjoying the experience.

Vanderlei, Almeida, AFP/Getty Images
/ Canada.com

1. SAFETY FIRST

I generally recommend travelling with a safety whistle (good for not only getting attention when needed, but also scaring off monkeys in a pinch) and a doorstop to wedge inside your guesthouse room at night to give extra peace of mind that the door will stay shut while you sleep.Paula Brownstein
/ AFP/Getty Images

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